Beverage preparation machine with multiple container holders

Abstract

The invention concerns a beverage preparation machine (1) comprising a single code reader (71) arranged outside of container holders (7a, 7b) for reading a code from single-serve containers (11, 17) outside from the container holders (7a, 7b), and a control unit (8) for controlling the fluid system to deliver the fluid only in one of the fluid delivery interfaces (9a, 9b) according to the data red by the code reader (71) with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers (11, 17).

Description

[0001] BEVERAGE PREPARATION MACHINE WITH MULTIPLE CONTAINER HOLDERS

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of beverages preparation, in particular to the field of beverages preparation from single-serve container comprising a beverage ingredient.

[0004] More particularly, the present invention relates to a beverage preparation machine and to the beverages preparation using single-serve containers comprising a beverage ingredient.

[0005] Background of the invention

[0006] Beverage preparation systems for portioned beverage are well known in the art. They are also widely available commercially. They comprise usually a beverage preparation machine into which one or more ingredient containers are inserted. The machine is able to pass a fluid, typically hot water through an ingredient contained in the single-serve container, so as to produce a beverage by dissolution (from e.g. milk or chocolate soluble powders), low-pressure infusion (from e.g. leaf tea, loose coffee powder), or high-pressure extraction (from e.g. roast and ground coffee in loose or compacted form). The beverage preparation machine of this type comprises one fluid system with fluid-conducting pipes, a fluid-conducting pump, a fluid source (e.g. a water tank, or a direct plumbing connection valve), and a so-called brewing chamber which is adapted to accommodate said single-serve container and prepare a beverage by mixing said ingredient and said fluid according to the methods described above. In these systems, the single serve container introduced by the user inside the system becomes enclosed in a chamber to perform the extraction process and then is removed from the chamber. The chamber comprises two parts configured to be moved apart during the introduction of the single-serve container and then moved one to the other to form the extraction chamber around the single-serve container for the beverage extraction.

[0007] In one particular type of system, the user introduces the single-serve container inside a receiving area of the beverage preparation machine that leads the single-serve container directly between the two parts of the beverage preparation machine like in EP1859714A1 or EP1646305A1. In such a type of system, the two parts of the chamber are generally movable one to the other along a horizontal direction and the single-serve container can be introduced inside the two parts and then removed from the chamber along the perpendicular vertical direction to take benefit of the gravity fall of the single-serve container in these operations. Accordingly, such a type of system requires the provision of container catchers and container ejectors inside the chamber to control the movement of the single-serve container which makes manufacturing more complex.

[0008] In some systems, the single-serve container presents an identification or recognition means or code that is read by a code reader of the beverage preparation machine before the beverage is prepared. This identification or recognition means or code provides the beverage preparation machine with information about the single-serve container like the beverage ingredient stored in the single-serve container or the size of the single-serve container. Such information can be used to adapt the beverage preparation to the single-serve container to implement the best preparation.

[0009] Different types of identification or recognition means or code exist and are adapted to different types of reader like optical, mechanical, magnetic, etc.

[0010] Usually, the single-serve container is introduced in a two-parts brewing chamber by gravity fall, the reading operation requires that the single-serve container is stopped in its fall to operate the reading. This stop can be obtained by closing the path of the single-serve container with a stopper, that is driven by a motor.

[0011] Some of these readers require that during the reading operation, the reader and the identification or recognition means or code are placed very close one to the other and that even a part of the reader contacts the part of the single-serve container that holds the identification or recognition means or code. Such a reading operation requires that the singleserve container is stopped very close to the code reader and the code reader and / or the singleserve container are / is moved one to the other. This operation can increase the time of preparation of the beverage, which is not convenient for the user. In addition, this operation is often implemented by means of a motor to control the relative movement of the single-serve container and the code reader, which increases the cost of production of the system again. In order to produce more varieties of beverages with one single machine, a certain number of systems have been proposed and single-serve containers for the automatic preparation of beverages encompass various formats of single-serve containers that can be extracted according to different types of systems.

[0012] In this regard, the patent application W02019096830A1 describes a beverage preparation machine comprising a fluid system and at least two container holders adapted for receiving single-serve containers of different sizes and / or types and separate fluid injection interfaces arranged for independently delivering fluid in one of the corresponding single-serve containers and the relative ingredients. A control unit controls the fluid system to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with the beverage ingredient contained in the single-serve containers to produce a mixed beverage component in each of the containers and to dispense them sequentially or simultaneously to produce the beverage.

[0013] The beverage preparation machine is also provided with at least two separate code readers or sensors, each of which is operatively to a respective container holder and arranged for independently identify, at any time during insertion, an identification code which will set the beverage preparation parameters automatically.

[0014] Accordingly, such a type of system requires a multiplication of code readers or sensors and the provision of such code readers or sensors makes the manufacturing of the beverage preparation machine more complex and expensive, increasing the preparation time of the beverage as well, which is not convenient for the user.

[0015] The technical problem underlying the invention is therefore to solve the drawbacks of the known beverage preparation systems, and especially provide a beverage preparation machine which is able to produce the best quality beverage in a user-friendly way, providing automated and either sequential or simultaneous production of beverage components for multicomponent beverages, said machine being manufactured from the lowest possible amount of mechanical components.

[0016] Summary of the invention

[0017] The object of the present invention is to provide a beverage preparation machine able to minimize the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0018] In particular, the object of the present invention is to provide a beverage preparation machine able to dispense in an accurate way according to the single-serve container recognized. The aforementioned objects are achieved, in a first aspect of the invention, by a beverage preparation machine according to the attached claims.

[0019] The beverage preparation machine comprises:

[0020] - a fluid system comprising a fluid source, a fluid pump, a fluid heating element,

[0021] - at least two separate container holders adapted for receiving corresponding single-serve containers provided with a code and comprising one or more beverage ingredients, each container holder being provided with separate fluid delivery interfaces arranged for independently delivering fluid in one of the corresponding single-serve containers and each fluid delivery interface being connected to the fluid system,

[0022] - a control unit arranged for managing the beverage preparation operations and for controlling the fluid system in a manner to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with the beverage ingredients contained in the single-serve containers to produce a beverage component in each of the single-serve containers,

[0023] the beverage preparation machine is characterized in that it comprises a single code reader arranged outside of the container holders and operatively connected to the control unit, the code reader being able to read the code from the single-serve containers outside from the container holders,

[0024] wherein the control unit controls the fluid system to deliver the fluid only in the fluid delivery interface of the container holder identified according to the data red by the code reader with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers, and the control unit allows the start of the beverage preparation operations only after the single-serve container is received in the corresponding container holder. The single code reader allows to simplify the container holders, or brewing chambers, while maintaining and even increasing the reading reliability. Moreover, with a single code reader the possibility to start the beverage preparation operations by the control unit allows a better control and a reduction of cost for the beverage preparation machine.

[0025] In an embodiment, the control unit is able to determine the parameters for the extraction of the single-serve container before the insertion in any of the container holders according to the data red by the code reader with respect to the code of the single-serve container.

[0026] In an embodiment, each of the separate container holders is provided with a corresponding feeding path for the single-serve container, and wherein the code reader is arranged outside of the feeding paths.

[0027] This positioning helps to increase the readability of the code.

[0028] In an embodiment, the code reader is arranged on an outside surface of the beverage preparation machine.

[0029] This positioning appears to be the more convenient for the user when the beverage preparation machine needs to be operated and allows an increased readability of the code. In an embodiment, the code reader is arranged in a fixed position.

[0030] The fixed position allows to reduce the costs connected to the manufacturing of the beverage preparation machine, while increasing the reliability due to the removal of moving parts. In an embodiment, the beverage preparation machine comprises two separate container holders only, a first of the two separate container holders is adapted for receiving a first type of the single-serve containers and a second of the two separate container holders is adapted for receiving a second type of the single-serve containers, and wherein the first type of the single-serve containers and the second type of the single-serve containers differ from one another for being of different sizes and / or types.

[0031] This allows to define a complex beverage with different single-serve containers comprising a plurality of different ingredients.

[0032] In an embodiment, each separate fluid delivery interfaces has a different structural and kinematic configuration adapted to a different single-serve container.

[0033] In an embodiment, the single code reader is able to read the code from each of the singleserve containers sequentially,

[0034] wherein the control unit controls the code reader to read the code from a subsequent singleserve container after a previous single-serve container received in the corresponding container holder according to the data red by the code reader with respect to the code of the previous single-serve container,

[0035] wherein the control unit is further arranged to control the fluid system to deliver the fluid in the fluid delivery interfaces of the corresponding container holders sequentially, so as to dispense part or whole of the beverage components sequentially from the separate container holders to prepare a single beverage, according to the data red by the code reader with respect to the codes sequentially red from the single-serve containers, and

[0036] wherein the control unit allows the beverage preparation to start only after a last single-serve container is received in the corresponding container holder according to the data red by the code reader with respect to the code red from the last single-serve container.

[0037] The sequential activation allows to define complex beverage in an automatic way, while reducing the complexity of the beverage preparation machine.

[0038] In an embodiment, the beverage preparation machine comprises a user interface operatively connected to the control unit, and wherein the user interface indicates which separate container holders must be used according to the data red by the code reader with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers.

[0039] This allows the reduction of mistakes from the consumer, easily intercepting the right container holder according to the recipe to be made.

[0040] In an embodiment, the single code reader is part of the user interface.

[0041] In this way, the footprint of the beverage preparation machine 1 can be reduced, while ease interaction with the user can be achieved.

[0042] In an embodiment, the beverage preparation machine comprises a lever associated to at least one of the separate container holders and movable from an opening position, to open the container holder, to a closed position, to close the container holder, and vice versa, wherein the lever is operatively connected to the control unit, and wherein the control unit controls the fluid system to deliver the fluid only in one of the fluid delivery interfaces according to the data red by the code reader with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers and triggered by the movement of lever from the open position to the closed position.

[0043] Thus, the lever can protect or keep closed the container holder, while also defining a further physical user interface element to reduce the complexity of the beverage preparation machine. In a further aspect, the aforementioned objects are achieved by a beverage dispensing system comprising a beverage preparation machine according to the present invention and at least two different single-serve containers provided with a code and comprising one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the single-serve containers comprise different ingredients and / or have different sizes and / or are of different types.

[0044] In a further aspect, the aforementioned objects are achieved by a method for preparing a beverage according to the attached claims.

[0045] The method for preparing a beverage comprises:

[0046] - providing single-serve containers provided with a code and comprising one or more beverage ingredients; - reading the code from one or more of the single-serve containers by a single code reader of the beverage preparation machine being arranged outside of a plurality of container holders of the beverage preparation machine;

[0047] - controlling the fluid system of the beverage preparation machine to deliver the fluid only in one of the separate fluid delivery interfaces respectively provided with the container holders identified according to the data red by the code reader with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers;

[0048] - starting the beverage preparation operations only after the single-serve container is received in the corresponding container holder.

[0049] The single code reader allows to read the code of the single-serve container in a simplified way, while maintaining and even increasing the reading reliability. Moreover, with a single code reader the possibility to start the beverage preparation operations by the control unit allows a better control and a reduction of cost for the beverage preparation machine.

[0050] In an embodiment, the method for preparing a beverage is by way of operating a beverage preparation machine according to the attached claims.

[0051] In a further aspect, the aforementioned objects are achieved by a use of a single-serve container provided with a code to operate the beverage preparation machine according to the present invention.

[0052] Brief description of the drawings

[0053] These and further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the disclosure of the preferred embodiment, illustrated by way of a non-limiting example in the accompanying figures, wherein:

[0054] - Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a beverage preparation machine according to the present invention;

[0055] - Figure 2 is a bottom perspective views of a single-serve container according to an embodiment for use in a beverage preparation machine of the invention;

[0056] - Figure 3 is a front cut view of a single-serve container according to another embodiment for use in a beverage preparation machine of the invention;

[0057] - Figure 4 is a partial side view of an embodiment of the beverage preparation machine of Figure 1, showing one embodiment of the code reader and of the different container holders;

[0058] - Figure 5 is partial perspective view of the beverage preparation machine of Figure 4; - Figure 6 is top planar view of a further embodiment of a user interface comprising the code reader, of a beverage preparation machine according to the present invention;

[0059] - Figure 7 is a partial schematic side view of an embodiment of the beverage preparation machine of Figure 1, showing an embodiment of different container holders and their corresponding fluid delivery interfaces, in a beverage machine according to the invention.

[0060] Detailed description of exemplary embodiments

[0061] Figure 1 illustrates schematically the set-up of a beverage preparation machine 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention. Such a beverage preparation machine 1 is preferably a multi-ingredient machine. This means that the beverage that is eventually delivered to a consumer (e.g. into a cup), comprises at least two beverage components that require separate preparation in dedicated single-serve containers defining ingredient containers, so that optimal quality preparation of each component of the final beverage can be achieved. Such optimal preparation is obtained by a preparation process which is specific to each type of ingredient. For this reason, the structure of each single-serve container is adapted to a specific type of ingredient and mixing process. Importantly, mixing of the fluid with the ingredient to prepare a corresponding beverage component must be performed in each respective container, so that optimal mixing conditions can be achieved.

[0062] By “structure", it is meant that the shape, dimensions, constitutive material, and also the mechanical set-up that allows mixing of the fluid with the ingredient contained therein, is specific to the amount and composition of the beverage ingredient.

[0063] The beverage preparation machine 1 is adapted to beverage preparation from singleserve containers provided with a code (not illustrated) and comprising one or more beverage ingredients. The code on each single-serve container can be used in order to adapt the correct functioning parameters of a fluid system, to every single-serve container inserted therein, as it will be described in more details. The single-serve containers may have different constructions and / or may contain various types of ingredients, so as to prepare a beverage as an individual preparation (only one single-serve container is used for a single beverage) or as a sequential preparation (more than one single-serve container is used for a single beverage).

[0064] Some ingredients require an extraction, others either an infusion or a dissolution. The beverage preparing machine 1 according to the invention comprises a fluid system, and especially a fluid pump and fluid delivery interfaces, adapted for delivering fluid to the containers, at a pressure, temperature and flowrate which are compatible with either extraction, infusion, or dissolution values.

[0065] By “extraction", it is meant a high-pressure contact of fluid (typically heated water) with solid particles (e.g. roast and ground coffee). Extraction pressure is typically between 5 and 25 bar, preferably between 7 and 20 bar. The flowrate is comprised between 20 ml / min and 350 ml - preferably between 50 and 250 ml / min.

[0066] By “infusion" it is meant a slow, low-pressure contact of heated fluid (typically water) with insoluble edible ingredient (e.g. tea leaves). In the case of infusion, pressure is generally close to, or equal to atmospheric pressure. Infusion flowrate is typically comprised within the range of between 20 ml / min and 500 ml / min (overall flow rate for complete serving, potential prewetting included).

[0067] By “dissolution" it is meant solubilisation of ingredient powder particles, or ingredient gel phase, or ingredient liquid concentrate, within the fluid. In the case of dissolution of a powder, a gel or a liquid concentrate, fluid pressure delivered by the fluid delivery interface at the container fluid entry point (not inside the container) is typically between 0 and 3 bar and flow rate is between 50 ml / min and 500 ml / min.

[0068] Different embodiments of single-serve containers can be used with the beverage preparation machine 1 according to the invention. In the exemplary embodiments described in more details hereafter, two types of single-serve containers 11, 17 are used with the beverage preparation machine 1 , one type of single-serve container being a rigid or flexible pod containing roast and ground coffee (coffee pod 11) as illustrated in Figure 2 (and in a further embodiment in Figure 7), and the other being a flexible sachet (or pouch) containing a soluble powder (e.g. a dairy-based ingredient) ora liquid concentrate (sachet 17) as illustrated in Figures 3 and 7.

[0069] Preferably, the ingredients are chosen within the list of: roast and ground coffee, compacted or not, soluble powdered coffee, or leaf tea. It can also be dairy ingredients (e.g. milk or creamer), tea, chocolate, fruit juices, soups, vegetable juices, bouillons, tea, smoothies, purees, coulis, creams ora combination thereof, in powdered soluble form, liquid concentrated form having various viscosities, or in gel form having thixotropic properties.

[0070] All of these ingredients are in a form which is compatible with a dissolution, extraction or infusion in a liquid fluid, typically water, at cold state (between 4 and 20°C, ambient state (from 20°C to 35°C), or hot state (between 35°C and 95°C, preferably at a temperature comprised between 40°C and 90°C). The mixing fluid used is typically water.

[0071] More precisely, roast and ground coffee requires high fluid pressure for extraction of the coffee substances, in the form of a water film that passes evenly through the coffee bed. Further, long coffee cups such as “Grande" and “long cups" require bigger particles, and a longer volume of water passing through at a lower pressure (typically, a pressure comprised between 6 bar and 16 bar, preferably between 8 and 14 bar, and a volume comprised for a “long cup” between: 100 ml and 150 ml, and for a “Grande" between 150 ml and 500 ml, preferably between 160 ml and 300 ml). Instead, shorter coffee cups such as “Espresso" and “Ristretto” require less volume of water passing through, at a higher pressure (pressure comprised between 10 and 20 bar, preferably between 12 and 18 bar, and a volume comprised between 15 and 30 ml for “Ristretto", and comprised between 30 and 60 ml, preferably between 40 and 50 ml for “Espresso").

[0072] On the other hand, when the food or beverage ingredient is a soluble food or beverage ingredient, it is selected in the list of: instant coffee powder, milk powder, cream powder, instant tea powder, cocoa powder, soup powder, fruit powder or mixture of said powders, a coffee concentrate, a milk concentrate, a syrup, a fruit or vegetable concentrate, a tea concentrate, a fruit or vegetable puree.

[0073] The powders can be agglomerated or sintered. The powders or liquid concentrates can be mixed with solid pieces for example for preparing soups with solid pieces. The food or beverage ingredient can also be an infusable food or beverage ingredient like a roast and ground coffee or tea leaves. In that embodiment water extracts the infusable ingredient.

[0074] Soluble products require low pressure dissolution with a high-speed jet to ensure a dynamic dissolution of powder particles with the fluid (in case the ingredient is under powder form). Depending on the type of ingredient (soluble powder or liquid concentrate) and its composition (e.g. milk, chocolate, soup, with or without particles, etc.) and more generally, depending on the chemical composition, viscosity of the liquid concentrate, and size of powder particles, the ingredient may require different types of preparation sequence, that is to say, variations of fluid pressure, and / or flowrate of the fluid injected into the container can be modulated during the same dissolution cycle, to ensure full and even dissolution of the liquid concentrate, or powder particles, into the mixing fluid (e.g. hot water).

[0075] The fluid that is circulated through the fluid system of the beverage preparation machine 1 according to the invention is preferably water. However, alternative fluids could be used, such as milk, juice and other edible liquids. Such fluid may or not contain gas in an amount sufficient for creating a sparkling beverage. Such gas is either naturally present in said fluid, or is added from an independent gas source, either independently, or directly within the beverage preparation machine by an in-built gas-mixing system. Such gas-mixing systems, using a gas-pump, or pressurized gas containers, are known in the art.

[0076] An embodiment of a single-serve container 11, illustrated in Figure 2, is a roast and ground coffee pod 11. Advantageously, the coffee contained therein is in a compacted or semicompacted form. The coffee pod 11 is made of a material comprising cellulose, having a paper weight (thickness) comprised between 20 g / sqm (gram per square meter) and 500 g / sqm, preferably between 50 g / sqm and 300 g / sqm. As an alternative, the coffee pod can be made with a multi-layer thermoplastic-aluminium material providing oxygen and moisture barrier properties, such that an overwrap barrier package becomes unnecessary. Preferably, each coffee pod has a diameter comprised between 20mm and 60mm. Such a diameter allows to ensure a proper sealing of the corresponding fluid delivery interface with the boundaries of the coffee pod and can be achieved without requiring a very high closing force from the beverage preparation machine 1. On the other hand, the diameter is chosen not too small, to ensure that sufficient ingredient (e.g. coffee) is contained therein. The thickness of the coffee pod can be chosen appropriately, depending on the amount of coffee that is required for delivering the right volume of coffee in the cup. It preferably has a thickness comprised between 5 and 35 mm. Each coffee pod comprises a hollow cavity 12 which contains a volume of roast and ground coffee. The hollow cavity 12 is fulfilled with an ingredient, such that practically no headspace is present therein. The hollow cavity 12 is defined by a bottom wall 13 and lateral walls 14 formed in one single part, and a top wall (not illustrated) attached to the peripheral edge 15 of the lateral walls 14. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 2, the top wall is flat. However, according to another embodiment (as illustrated in Figure 7) the top wall can also be convex. Other shapes (considered in the plane of the sealing between the top wall and the rest of the coffee pod) can also be envisaged (triangular, square, round, spherical...).

[0077] Another embodiment of a single-serve container 17, illustrated in Figure 3 (and partly in Figure 7), is a sachet 17, of a semi-flexible type. The sachet 17 comprises a flexible cavity part defining an inner volume 18, said cavity being made of a film of thermoplastic, of paper, of alloy, of metal, or of a combination thereof. A rigid spout 19 is attached to the flexible cavity part, so that fluid injected by the corresponding fluid delivery interface of the beverage preparation machine 1 into the rigid spout 19 is delivered through an injection hole of the spout into the inner volume 18 of the sachet, for mixing with the ingredient contained therein. The rigid spout illustrated in Figure 3 is integrated within the boundaries of the film that forms the cavity (i.e. it is “overwrapped” into the film, so that it is not apparent from outside). In Figure 3, the sachet 17 is represented with a transparent film forming the sachet cavity, so that the integrated spout is apparent. An example of a sachet suitable for use with the beverage preparation machine according to the present invention, is described for instance in Applicant’s patent application WO2018033431 A1. The so-called “rigid spout" is a fitment assembly 19 adapted to cooperate with a corresponding fluid delivery interface, a preferred embodiment of which is described afterwards.

[0078] The beverage preparation machine 1 typically comprises a fluid system with a fluid source 2, a fluid pump 3, and a fluid heating element 4.

[0079] In the embodiment of the beverage preparation machine 1 illustrated in Figure 1, the fluid source is a detachable water reservoir 2 that is connected to the rest of the fluid system through a valve and a set of fluid connecting pipes 6. Alternative fluid sources encompass tapwater connections, a non-water edible fluid canister, a water-bottle connection, for instance. In case of a water reservoir 2 as described above, a water filter (not illustrated in the drawing) can be included in the reservoir, to filter water that is pumped from said reservoir towards the fluid system pipes 6.

[0080] The beverage preparation machine 1 further comprises at least two separate container holders 7a, 7b adapted for receiving corresponding single-serve containers 11, 17, as illustrated in Figure 1 and 7. Each container holder 7a, 7b being provided with separate fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b arranged for independently delivering fluid in one of the corresponding single-serve containers 11, 17 and each fluid delivery interface 9a, 9b being connected to the fluid system. Each one of the fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b is therefore adapted in shape, and dimensions, to the single-serve container 11, 17 to which it delivers fluid.

[0081] The container holders 7a, 7b are mechanical elements adapted for ensuring static positioning of the single-serve containers 11, 17 within the beverage preparation machine 1, at least during the time it actually functions to prepare a beverage, so that the corresponding fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b can be connected to the single-serve container 11, 17 in a functional manner for injecting fluid therein or therethrough. In an embodiment (as illustrated in Figure 7), the container holder can take the form of a groove into which the single-serve container is deposited (e.g. manually, or slid by gravity, or transferred mechanically from another location). In another embodiment (not illustrated), the container holder can be a more complex element such as a capsule holder, of the type described for instance in Applicant’s European patent EP1967100B1. Optionally, the container holder comprises means to assist in the container opening (e.g. comprises means for piercing, tearing, or generally actuating opening of the container at its dispensing side, by effect of a mechanical, thermal, or chemical activation). In some instances, the container holder comprises means for assisting delivery of the beverage component to the consumer (e.g. it comprises a channel that guides the flow of beverage component towards the consumer cup).

[0082] The different types of container holders 7a, 7b and respective fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b can mechanically and kinematically different. In particular, each separate fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b can have a different structural and kinematic configuration adapted to a different single-serve container 11, 17. The fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b are arranged for independently delivering fluid, in the corresponding single-serve container 11, 17 to which they are fluidly connected. As can be easily understood, each fluid delivery interface is connected to the fluid system so that it receives fluid from the fluid reservoir, through the fluid pump 3 and the heating element 4.

[0083] According to the embodiments illustrated in the Figures 1 and 7, the beverage preparation machine 1 comprises two separate container holders 7a, 7b only, which differ from one another, so that they are adapted to hold single-serve containers of different sizes and / or types. In particular, a first of the two separate container holders 7a is adapted for receiving a first type of the single-serve containers 11 (defined by the coffee pod) and a second of the two separate container holders 7b is adapted for receiving a second type of the single-serve containers 17 (defined by the sachet), wherein the first type of the single-serve containers 11 and the second type of the single-serve containers 17 differ from one another for being of different sizes and / or types. An example of a separate container holders 7a, 7b and respective separate fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b for use with the beverage preparation machine according to the present invention, is described for instance in Applicant’s patent application W02019096830A1, herewith incorporated by reference.

[0084] The fluid system described above is preferably simple in structure, and therefore comprises a direct connection in series between the fluid source 2 (e.g. water reservoir), then the fluid pump 3, then the fluid heating element 4, and finally the fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b.

[0085] However, in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 1, said fluid system comprises an additional alternative fluid pipe 6a connecting the fluid pump 3 to the fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b, which is mounted in parallel to, and by-passes, the heating element. In such a configuration, the beverage preparation machine 1 further comprises a selection valve system 10 as illustrated in figure 1, that is able to select delivery of fluid towards the fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b, between either the fluid line that contains the heating element (hence delivering heated water), and / or the fluid line that by-passes the heating element (hence delivering non-heated fluid), in a sequential, or individual manner. Such a configuration provides a possibility for the beverage preparation machine 1 to deliver fluid to the containers that is not heated, and is therefore delivered by the fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b to their corresponding single-serve containers at a temperature which is that of the fluid source 2. In the preferred embodiment shown in Figure 1, the fluid selection valve 10 is connected to a control unit - like all other elements of the fluid system -, so that said control unit automatically switches the position of the valve in its closed state, or in an open state for conducting hot or non-heated fluid towards one or the other fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b in an individual preparation (only one single-serve container is used for a single beverage) or in a sequential preparation (more than one single-serve container is used for a single beverage).

[0086] Optionally, the beverage preparation machine can comprise a fluid cooling element, e.g. a Pel I etier- effect device, or a compressor (not illustrated in the drawing) that is placed in the fluid system between the fluid source and the selection valve.

[0087] Generally, the fluid pressure that is taken into consideration is the fluid pressure that is measured at the junction between the fluid delivery interface of the beverage preparation machine, and the single-serve container. This pressure is not necessarily the same as the actual fluid pressure inside the single-serve container’s ingredient compartment. For instance, fluid pressure that is delivered at the flexible sachet 17 is the fluid pressure of the machine’s fluid system. Such a pressure - delivered by the fluid pump 3 - can be e.g. 19 bar. However, the pressure inside the sachet 17 then drops due to the mechanical resistance created by the ingredient, and because of the resilience of the sachet’s walls, and mostly because of the beverage that is dispensed out of the sachet 17.

[0088] Typically, a fluid system of a conventional low-pressure beverage preparation machine, for example a coffee preparation machine, delivers between 350 and 600 ml / min of water under a pressure comprised between 0 and 5 bars. A fluid system of a high-pressure espresso coffee preparation machine delivers between 150 and 300 ml / min of water under a pressure comprised between 15 and 25 bars.

[0089] However, as described above, the beverage preparation machine 1 according to the invention comprises separate fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b having different structural and kinematic configurations, and arranged for independently injecting (or more generally delivering) fluid in one of the corresponding single-serve containers 11, 17, each fluid delivery interface 9a, 9b being connected to the fluid system and being adapted to a different singleserve container. Therefore, there is a technical constraint of injecting fluid, e.g. water, in different types of single-serve containers containing different types of ingredients, from one single fluid system comprising one fluid pump 3. This creates the need for a versatile fluid pump 3, able to deliver a large span of pressures and flowrates, either sequentially, or individually.

[0090] According to the invention, the fluid pump 3 delivers fluid in one or the other of the singleserve containers 11, 17, at either low or high pressure, and at either low or high flowrate. The pressure range that is achieved by the fluid pump 3 in the context of the invention is comprised typically between 0 and 25 bar, preferably between 5 and 20 bar. The flowrate delivered by the pump to the container is comprised between 0 and 900 ml / min, preferably between 150 ml / min and 650 ml / min.

[0091] One example of a fluid pump 3 that is suitable for use in a beverage preparation machine 1 according to the invention is a standard piston pump delivering a maximum output pressure of 20 bar.

[0092] The beverage preparation machine according to the present invention can comprise various types of fluid pumps for circulating a fluid from a fluid source (e.g. a reservoir or an external fluid line connected to said beverage preparation machine) in the conditions set out above. More precisely, the pump is selected from the - non-exhaustive - list of: piston pumps, solenoid pumps, gear pumps, screw pumps, rotary vane pumps, and peristaltic pumps. One additional type of pumps which is advantageous in the context of the invention is membrane pumps, especially those of the type described in Applicant’s European patent application EP AN 17155317.

[0093] The beverage preparation machine 1 further comprises a control unit 8 arranged for managing the beverage preparation operations and for controlling the fluid system in a manner to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with the beverage ingredient contained in the singleserve containers 11, 17 to produce a beverage component in each of the single-serve containers 11, 17.

[0094] According to the invention, the control unit 8 is programmed to dispense part or whole of the mixed components sequentially or individually to produce the beverage. Control unit 8 can be any type of computer chip or chip board, with or without an internal memory, as known in the art.

[0095] In order to adapt the correct functioning parameters of the fluid system to every singleserve container 11, 17 inserted therein, a container-machine recognition system can be used defined by the interaction between the single-serve containers 11, 17 themselves and the beverage preparation machine 1. In this regard, the codes, located on each individual singleserve container 11, 17, can be used in connection with a code reader 71, provided on the beverage preparation machine 1, being able to read the code from the single-serve containers 11, 17. Such a code can be selected within the codes known in the art, such as for instance 1 -dimensional, or 2-dimensional barcodes such as e.g. those described in Applicant’s European patents EP2481330B1, EP2525691B1 or EP2525692B1. The code can also be a colour code, conductivity code, or optical code, such as those described for instance in Applicant’s patent applications WO2017144581 A1 , WO2017144579A1, WO2017144582A1 or WO2019029894A1.

[0096] In particular, the beverage preparation machine 1 comprises the single code reader 71 arranged outside of the container holders 7a, 7b and operatively connected to the control unit 8 (as illustrated in Figures 1, 4 and 5), so that the single code reader 71 is able to read the code from the single-serve containers 11, 17 outside from the container holders 7a, 7b. The control unit 8 controls the fluid system to deliver the fluid only in the fluid delivery interface 9a, 9b of the container holder 7a, 7b identified according to the data red by the code reader 71 with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers 11, 17. Moreover, the control unit 8 allows the start of the beverage preparation operations only after the single-serve container 11, 17 is received in the corresponding container holder 7a, 7b.

[0097] The code reader 71 is thus linked to the control unit 8, so that decoding of the code of a given single-serve container 11, 17 triggers working settings of the fluid system in the beverage preparation machine 1 adapted to the corresponding single-serve container 11, 17. Such working settings or parameters include, but are not limited to, at least one or a combination of: the fluid temperature, the fluid flow rate, the fluid pressure, or the fluid volume that is delivered in one given container. By applying different codes to each individual type of single-serve container 11, 17, and because the beverage preparation machine 1 according to the invention comprises container holders 7a, 7b and fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b which are separate, and adapted to function with each type of single-serve container 11, 17 (e.g. rigid capsule, soft pod, flexible sachet), it is therefore possible to ensure that the above mentioned beverage preparation parameters are adapted individually to each single-serve container 11, 17 that is inserted inside the beverage preparation machine 1 , in order to extract each type of ingredient the best possible way. Thus, preferably, the control unit 8 is able to determine the parameters for the extraction of the single-serve container 11, 17 before the insertion of the same in the corresponding container holder 7a, 7b, according to the data red by the code reader 71 with respect to the code of the single-serve container 11, 17.

[0098] In this regard, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the code reader 71 is arranged on an outside surface of the beverage preparation machine 1 , being preferably the top outside surface. In the present embodiment, the arrangement is such that to be placed in-between the container holders 7a, 7b, in particular in-between the only two container holders 7a, 7b defined in the illustrated embodiment. This positioning appears to be the more convenient for the user when the beverage preparation machine 1 needs to be operated. Moreover, it reduces all the possible issues in connection with the reading of the code, such as the presence of moisture or insufficient lighting conditions which are frequent when the code reader is placed in the container holders (such as in the brewing chamber of in the feeding path towards the same).

[0099] The code reader 71 is arranged in a fixed position, being not movable with respect to the frame of the beverage preparation machine 1 as well as, in particular, with respect to the container holders 7a, 7b. The fixed position allows to reduce the costs connected to the manufacturing of the beverage preparation machine 1, while increasing the reliability due to the absence of moving parts.

[0100] In some embodiments, as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, the beverage preparation machine 1 also comprises a user interface 81. Preferably, the user interface (III) 81 comprises or is defined by a visual III 181 capable of displaying graphics. In particular, the visual III 181 is able to indicate which separate container holders 7a, 7b should be used.

[0101] Thus, in one embodiment, the visual III 181 may comprise multiple (distinctive) graphical elements arranged at different positions (such as arrow indicators), each graphical element defining a pointer to a corresponding container holder. One further example of the latter arrangement is illustrated by the two distinct arrow indicators showed in Figure 6. In order to better recognize the correct graphical element to take into consideration, each graphical element can be provided with an illumination, such as one or more LEDs arranged in a layer below. Thus, the visual III 181 may display an arrow element in direction of the container holder to be used, by illuminating (statically or by blinking) only the same.

[0102] According to another embodiment, the visual III may comprise multiple graphical elements arranged at the same positions, each graphical element defining a pointer to a corresponding container holder. In this case, the illumination itself may be a relevant part of the graphical element to be defined, so that to create the arrow element in the direction of the right container holder to be used by way of illumination.

[0103] Moreover, the user interface 81 can comprise a physical input device 281 (such as one or more physical buttons) which allows the interaction of the user with the beverage preparation machine 1. As an alternative, or an addition, the user interface may also comprise a further layer relating to a tactile III (touch area), are other layers to complement the III.

[0104] A further embodiment of the user interface 81 is also shown in Figure 6. In this embodiment, the single code reader 71 is part of the user interface 81 and defines a relevant portion of the same. In this way, the footprint of the beverage preparation machine 1 can be reduced, while ease interaction with the user can be achieved. In particular, the code reader 71 is arranged on the left portion of Figure 6 while the visual III 181 to indicate the separate container holders 7a, 7b is provided on its side. Furthermore, a single physical button is also provided (such as a brewing button). Different arrangements are possible according to further embodiments.

[0105] The user interface 81 is operatively connected to the control unit 8, so that the control unit 8 is able to display information to the user. In particular, the user interface 81 is able to indicate which separate container holders 7a, 7b must be used according to the data red by the code reader 71 with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers 11, 17. This allows the reduction of mistakes from the consumer, easily intercepting the right container holder according to the recipe to be made.

[0106] In the following, an exemplary embodiment of one embodiment of different container holders 7a, 7b and their corresponding fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b, in a beverage preparation machine 1 according to the invention (such as, a multi-ingredient beverage preparation machine) is described. In this embodiment, the beverage preparation machine 1 comprises two different fluid delivery interfaces 9a and 9b only, as illustrated in Figure 7, each of which is adapted mechanically, dimensionally, and kinematically to work with two different types of single-serve containers 11, 17.

[0107] More precisely, Figure 7 depicts the portion of the beverage preparation machine 1 wherein the single-serve containers 11, 17 are inserted and held in place during extraction. This figure does not show the rest of the beverage preparation machine, in particular the fluid system, the water reservoir, the control unit and the electric circuitry, the code reader and the user interface nor the casing of said beverage preparation machine.

[0108] The beverage preparation machine 1 comprises a first fluid delivery interface 9a delivering high fluid pressure to the single-serve container 11, for preparing coffee-based beverage preparations (hereafter “the coffee interface 9a”), and a second fluid delivery interface 9b for preparing a beverage (or beverage component) from another single-serve container 17, for instance a water-soluble ingredient such as water-soluble powder (hereafter “the soluble interface 9b”).

[0109] The coffee interface 9a comprises a fluid entry line 27 that is connected to pipes 6 (not illustrated in Figure 7) and the rest of the fluid system (including the fluid pump 3 and the fluid source 2), in a fluid conducting manner. The coffee interface 9a further comprises a stationary part 28 of the brewing chamber that is fixed to the chassis (not illustrated) of the machine. In the embodiment depicted in Figure 7, the stationary part of the brewing chamber comprises a beverage dispensing structure used for collecting beverage produced from the single-serve container 11 contained in the brewing chamber. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, the stationary part 28 further comprises opening means for opening the single-serve container (coffee pod) 11 at its beverage delivery end. The opening means comprises a plurality of raised elements having shape and dimensions adapted for stressing the material used for the pod walls until it ruptures in an open state (e.g. by tearing or piercing), thus allowing the beverage to flow out. In this embodiment, the beverage flows out through dispensing holes which are either located within the raised elements, or between them. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 7, the opening means are made of a series of piercing needles 29. The stationary part 28 has a cross section which is circular and has a diameter adapted to receive and hold the single-serve container 11 , which is a disc-shaped pod in this new embodiment. Of course, other cross section shapes can be envisaged, depending on the shape of the single-serve container to be used, so that the latter functionally adapts to the stationary part 28.

[0110] In one alternative embodiment of the present invention (not represented in the drawing), the single-serve container can be manufactured in a fluid permeable material, and does not require piercing of said single-serve container surface to let the coffee beverage flow out. In this case, the stationary part 28 does not comprise raised elements, but only beverage dispensing holes to collect the beverage from the single-serve container.

[0111] The coffee interface 9a further comprises a movable part 30 of the brewing chamber. The movable part 30 is a cylindrical element that is mounted in translation in a cladding structure 31 that is movable, relative to the chassis of the beverage preparation machine 1 , so as to open and close the brewing chamber. The cladding structure 31 is attached to an actuation mechanism adapted for moving said structure 31 back and forth in translation relatively to the stationary part 28. The movable part 30 is also actuated in translation by an actuation mechanism. The movement of the movable part 30 is coaxial to the displacement of the cladding structure 31 , with a reduced displacement length compared to that of the cladding structure 31. The reduced displacement length of the movable part 30 depends on the thickness of the single-serve container 11. In an embodiment, each of the cladding structure 31 and the movable part 30 are linked to one specific actuation mechanism, but alternatively they are linked to one single actuation mechanism through a partially uncoupled mechanical system, such that the same actuator (e.g. a motor, or a lever) actuates both the cladding structure 31 and the movable part 30, but allows different displacement lengths. In the embodiment represented in Figure 7, the actuation mechanism is a lever 33a, specifically a manual lever. The lever can also be present if a different type of container holder or fluid delivery interface is used.

[0112] The lever 33a, which is also illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, is thus associated to the first container holder 7a. In particular, the lever 33a is movable from an opening position, to open the container holder 7a, to a closed position, to close the container holder 7a, and vice versa.

[0113] In an embodiment, the lever 33a is operatively connected to the control unit 8, such that the position of the lever 33a triggers some operations inside the control unit 8. For example, the control unit 8 is able to control the fluid system to deliver the fluid only in one of the fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b, according to the data red by the code reader 71 with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers 11, 17 and triggered by the movement of lever 33a from the open position to the closed position. In particular, if the single-serve container 11 is red by the code reader 71 and (subsequently) the lever 33a, corresponding to the first container holder 7a, is moved from its open position to its closed position, the control unit 8 will control the fluid system to deliver the fluid only in the corresponding first fluid delivery interface 9a.

[0114] However, in an alternative embodiment (not illustrated) the actuation mechanism can be electric and associates an electric motor with a series of arms forming a partially uncoupled crick mechanism that are moved by the motor through a screw and nut system, and a gear mechanism system. The cladding structure 31 comprises a sealing ring 39 that seals the brewing unit when said cladding structure is moved forward against the stationary part 28, in the closed configuration of the brewing chamber.

[0115] The movable part 30 comprises a fluid delivery element which is used to deliver fluid from the fluid system of the machine, to the single-serve container 11 (in the presently described embodiment, a coffee pod). In one embodiment depicted in Figures 4, the fluid delivery element comprises a plurality of fluid injection needles 40 able to pierce through the wall of coffee pod and protrude hereinto for injection of fluid through the bed of coffee.

[0116] In the present embodiment, the fluid delivery element comprises 20 needles, each needle having a base diameter of between 1 and 5 mm, preferably 3 mm, and a base-to-tip length of between 1.5 and 10 mm, preferably 3.9 mm. The needles are made of plastic (alternatively, they can also be made of metal) and are hollow to let the fluid circulate from the fluid entry line 27 towards the coffee pod 11, as illustrated in Figure 4.

[0117] In an alternative embodiment of the invention (not illustrated), the fluid delivery element of the coffee interface 9a comprises a shower plate able to distribute fluid over a fluid-permeable portion of the single-serve container (coffee pod). In this embodiment, no element of the shower plate pierces through the walls of the coffee pod. In this case, the coffee pod is manufactured with a fluid permeable material able to retain the coffee inside (e.g. a cellulosic material, or a non-woven film material), so that fluid coming from the shower plate is distributed to the coffee bed inside the coffee pod, through the fluid-permeable material.

[0118] Injection pressure of fluid delivered to the surface of the coffee pod is comprised within the range of 8 to 19 bar, typically, and more generally within the range of pressures already provided for high pressure extractions provided in the present description.

[0119] As illustrated in the drawing, the movable part 30 and the cladding structure 31 have a cross section which is circular to adapt to the disc-shaped single-serve container 11 illustrated in Figure 7. Of course, other cross-sections shapes can be envisaged, to adapt to the shape and three-dimensional profile of the single-serve container, and to the shape of the stationary part 28.

[0120] The first fluid delivery interface 9a (coffee interface 9a) is associated to a first container holder 7a (hereafter “coffee pod holder 7a”). In the embodiment depicted in Figure 7, the coffee pod holder 7a comprises two parallel vertical insertion and holding grooves 41 (only one is depicted in the Figure), that create a vertical insertion path for the single-serve container 11 (coffee pod). It must be noted that, while the first container holders 7a is provided with a corresponding feeding path, i.e. the vertical insertion path, for the single-serve container 11 to be used, the code reader 71 is arranged to be also outside of the feeding path. Therefore, the recognition of the single-serve container 11 must be made even before the insertion of the same in the vertical insertion path.

[0121] Furthermore, the coffee pod holder 7a comprises a holding breakpoint 42 at the bottom of the vertical insertion path, onto which the coffee pod rests when it is fully inserted. Breakpoint 42 is positioned at a height such that when the coffee pod 11 rests onto it, said coffee pod is in alignment with the stationary and movable part of the coffee interface described above, as illustrated in Figure 7. The coffee pod holder 7a is preferably movable vertically between a raised position which allows insertion of a single-serve container 11 therein, and a lowered position wherein the single-serve container 11 is in coaxial alignment with the stationary 28 and movable 30 parts of the coffee interface 9a.

[0122] The machine 1 further comprises a second fluid delivery interface 9b (hereafter “the soluble interface 9b”) delivering low pressure fluid to the single-serve container 17, for preparing beverage preparations (a beverage, or beverage component if the final beverage is made of several components such as milk and coffee for instance) from a water-soluble ingredient, for instance a water soluble powder. The single-serve container 17 in the preferred embodiment described hereafter is a sachet 17 comprising a rigid part (in one or several independent elements) and a flexible part, as described herein before.

[0123] In use, the sachet 17 is placed vertically in the beverage preparation machine 1, with the rigid spout 19 at its lowermost end, as depicted in Figure 7 for instance. Thus, also the second container holder 7b creates a sachet vertical insertion path for the single-serve container 17 (sachet). It must be noted again that, while the second container holders 7b is provided with a corresponding feeding path, i.e. the sachet vertical insertion path, for the single-serve container 17 to be used, the code reader 71 is arranged to be also outside of the feeding path. Therefore, the recognition of the single-serve container 17 must be made even before the insertion of the same in the sachet vertical insertion path.

[0124] The soluble interface 9b comprises a first set of elements, which holds firmly the sachet 17 within said assembly when the latter is functioning. A set of two centring pins (not illustrated) is arranged within the soluble interface 9b, which are movable in horizontal translation between a position wherein the pins are retracted within the beverage preparation machine, and a position wherein the centring pins are moved towards the sachet 17 and inserted within a centring sockets.

[0125] The soluble interface 9b further comprises a second element which allows injection of fluid within the sachet 17. More precisely, a fluid inlet of the fitment assembly 19, is pierceable by injecting and piercing means of the beverage preparation machine 1 , preferably a fluid hollow needle of the fluid delivery interface 9b, called in what follows “injection needle”, through which high pressure fluid is injected in the fluid inlet of the sachet 17. However, it is also possible that the fluid inlet is directly accessible by injecting means which will inject fluid directly without the need to pierce any external lid or membrane. In a preferred configuration of the invention is that a flexible sheet of material which configures the container is also arranged covering the fluid inlet, this sheet being then pierced by the needle as it has just been described.

[0126] Preferably, water is injected at a pressure higher than 2 bars, more preferably higher than 3 bars, preferably comprised between 2 and 10 bars, more preferably of around 7 bars. This pressure is measured at the entry point, and is higher than the actual pressure within the sachet 17. The fluid inlet is configured in such a way that the high pressure fluid injected through it by the injecting and piercing means is converted into a high velocity jet, which is driven into the inner volume 18. Typically, the diameter of the fluid inlet is comprised between 1 mm and 4 mm, more preferably between 1.5 mm and 3 mm and comprises a yieldable cover over it which can be pierced by the injecting and piercing means. The fluid inlet can also be configured for providing an orientable high velocity jet into the inner volume 18, preferably at about 90° with respect to the fluid supply provided into the fluid inlet by the injecting and piercing means, though any other angle would be possible and comprised within the scope of the present application.

[0127] By “jet” it is understood a stream of liquid or fluid that comes out of the fluid inlet and into the inner volume of the food or beverage container quickly and with force.

[0128] The soluble interface 9b comprises a third set of elements which allow opening and closing of the spout 19 of the sachet 17, by moving a moveable part relatively to the rest of the sachet, especially relatively to a stationary part. More precisely, the beverage preparation machine 1 is further provided with driving pins each engaging with guiding sockets of the fitment assembly. The driving pins are mounted on a movable frame adapted to move the movable part of the sachet 17 vertically upwards and downwards into respectively closed and open states to the sachet’s spout. The actuation of the different movements is performed automatically by using an electric motor, but manual operations can also be encompassed. The sachet 17 is inserted from above into a container holder 7b which has a funnel shape (as depicted in Figure 7) so as to stop the vertical displacement of the sachet 17 inserted therein at a height wherein the centring sockets of the sachet are aligned with the centring pins of the fluid delivery interface 9b.

[0129] As described for the first fluid delivery interface 9a, in the embodiment represented in Figure 7, a further actuation mechanism is depicted, in particular a lever 33b, specifically a manual lever.

[0130] The lever 33b, which is also illustrated in Figures 4 and 5, is thus associated to the second container holder 7b. In particular, the lever 33b is movable from an opening position, to open the container holder 7b, to a closed position (as illustrated in Figures 4 and 5), to close the container holder 7b, and vice versa.

[0131] In an embodiment, the lever 33b is operatively connected to the control unit 8, such that the position of the lever 33b triggers some operations inside the control unit 8. For example, the control unit 8 is able to control the fluid system to deliver the fluid only in one of the fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b, according to the data red by the code reader 71 with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers 11, 17 and triggered by the movement of lever 33b from the open position to the closed position. In particular, if the single-serve container 17 is red by the code reader 71 and (subsequently) the lever 33b, corresponding to the second container holder 7b, is moved from its open position to its closed position, the control unit 8 will control the fluid system to deliver the fluid only in the corresponding second fluid delivery interface 9b.

[0132] According to further embodiment, the use of the levers 33a, 33b is optional, and they can be used or connected to the control unit, separately. Therefore, according to further embodiment, only one of the levers can be present.

[0133] The control unit 8 of the beverage preparation machine is able to manage the functioning of the various fluid delivery interfaces 9a and 9b in an individual, or sequential way, depending on the type of beverage that needs to be prepared.

[0134] In the following, the use of the single-serve containers 11, 17 provided with a code to operate the beverage preparation machine 1 is described, with particular reference to the embodiments as illustrated in the attached Figures. More in particular, reference is made to a method for preparing a beverage by way of operating a beverage preparation machine, specifically a beverage preparation machine 1 according to the present invention.

[0135] The method for preparing a beverage comprises providing single-serve containers 11, 17 provided with a code and comprising one or more beverage ingredients. The code on each single-serve container 11, 17 can be used in order to adapt the correct functioning parameters of a fluid system, to every single-serve container inserted therein, thus to define the correct container holder, the correct recipe to follow and to adjust consequently the brewing parameters in the correct container holder.

[0136] In the following, the operations will be described with reference to a preparation of a beverage by an individual extraction, wherein only one of the two container holder is used with a single single-serve container.

[0137] Generally, the machine is turned on and a beverage preparation cycle is started, using the user interface 81, as illustrated in Figures 4, 5 or 6, or in other known ways.

[0138] Thus, the method for preparing a beverage further comprises reading the code from one of the single-serve containers 11, 17 by the code reader 71 of the beverage preparation machine 1 (the single code reader of the beverage preparation machine) being arranged outside of the plurality of container holders 7a, 7b, therefore this operation is done outside from the plurality of container holders 7a, 7b of the beverage preparation machine 1 itself. The user can thus scan one of the single-serve containers 11, 17 intended to be used around or on a scanning area of the code reader 71 , so that the code of the single-serve container can be recognized. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the scanning area is defined and delimited by the four angular elements. The same area can result illuminated or retro-illuminated entirely or in the angular elements only to better highlight the scanning area to the user, thus defining a further portion of the visual III. For a better user-handling, the side of the single-serve container 11, 17 provided with the code to be red can also be provided with pictures of the same elements defining the scanning area. That is, the portion of the singleserve container provided with the code can also be provided with the four angular elements in order to make it clear which area of the single-serve container 11, 17 to process around or on the scanning area of the code reared 71.

[0139] Being provided outside from the container holder 7a, 7b and of the respective feeding path, the code reader 71 will be able to determine the parameters for the extraction of the single-serve container 11, 17 before the insertion in any of the container holders. Therefore, the code allows to set the beverage preparation parameters automatically.

[0140] Preferably, the user interface 81 will then signal the user which container holder 7a, 7b to be used according to the data red, as already described above. In this regard, one of the aforementioned graphical elements, such as one of the arrow indicators depicted in Figure 6, lights up and blinks after a successful scan to indicate which direction the coffee pod 11 or the sachet 17 must be inserted, therefore which of the container holder 7a, 7b to be used.

[0141] Furthermore, the method for preparing a beverage further comprises controlling the fluid system of the beverage preparation machine 1 to deliver the fluid only in one of separate fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b respectively provided with the container holders 7a, 7b identified according to the data red by the code reader 71 with respect to the code of one of the singleserve containers 11, 17.

[0142] Finally, the method for preparing a beverage comprises starting the beverage preparation operations only after the single-serve container 11, 17 is received in the corresponding container holder 7a, 7b.

[0143] Therefore, according to the illustrated embodiment, the control unit 8 of the beverage preparation machine will activate only one of the fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b (thus the pod interface 9a or the soluble interface 9b) according to the data red by the code reader 71.

[0144] Being provided with a lever 33a for the first container holder 7a and a lever 33b for the second container holder 7b (both manual operated), the same can be used to in cooperation with the code reader 71 to operate the beverage preparation machine 1 in the embodiments where the same levers 33a, 33b are operatively connected to the control unit 8. In particular, by opening the lever 33a or 33b the respective container holders 7a, 7b open to allow the insertion of the relative single-serve container 11, 17 to be used.

[0145] In an embodiment, the levers 33a, 33b are operatively connected to the control unit 8, such that the position of the levers 33a, 33b triggers some operations inside the control unit 8, as above described. According to other embodiments, only one of the lever can be operatively connected to the control unit, or none of them,

[0146] As already described, the control unit 8 is able to control the fluid system to deliver the fluid only in one of the fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b, according to the data red by the code reader 71 with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers 11, 17 and triggered by the movement of levers 33a, 33b from the open position to the closed position.

[0147] In particular, if one of the single-serve containers 11, 17 is red by the code reader 71 and (subsequently) the lever 33a, 33b of the corresponding first or second container holders 7a, 7b is moved from its open position to its closed position, the control unit 8 will control the fluid system to deliver the fluid only in the corresponding first or second fluid delivery interface 9a, 9b. Thus, the arrow indicator stops blinking and becomes a solid light after the right singleserve container 11, 17 is inserted, which is after the right container holder 7a, 7b is operated. This can be more effective if a recognition system for the single-serve container 11, 17 is present in the container holders 7a, 7b.

[0148] When the lever is the closed position, the single-serve container is ready to be used, i.e. to be brewed. The user interface can be provided with a further visual III element capable of indicating the beverage preparation machine 1 is ready for the preparation of the beverage. In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the further visual III element is placed below the physical input device (button) 281 indicated by cup shaped element which can be glowed, such as green glowed. The arrow indicator can be maintained in solid color.

[0149] The code reader 71 can thus be switch off or maintained active to allow the scan of a further single-serve container 11, 17 for a sequential operation, as will be described in a further embodiment.

[0150] After the extraction from the single-serve container, the scanning is no longer possible before cleaning, and thus the visual III relating to the code reader 71 can be turned off to highlight this aspect. Moreover, the arrow element of the relevant container holder which has been user can start blinking or flashing to show that an action is needed, such as the cleaning or emptying of the same, i.e. by discarding the used single-serve container.

[0151] A sequential extraction from two different container holders 7a, 7b is still possible, wherein the beverage is prepared using in a sequence both the container holders 7a, 7b with both the single-serve containers 11, 17.

[0152] Thus, the single code reader 71 is able to read the code from each of the single-serve containers 11, 17 sequentially. In particular, the same operations already described above can be repeated, with the difference when one of the levers 33a, 33b is arranged in the closed position the code reader 71 is not switched off but still kept active for the subsequent scanning. The control unit 8 controls the code reader 71 to read the code from a subsequent single-serve container 11, 17 after a previous single-serve container 11, 17 is received in the corresponding container holder 7a, 7b according to the data red by the code reader 71 with respect to the code of the previous single-serve container 11, 17. Moreover, the control unit 8 is further arranged to control the fluid system to deliver the fluid in the fluid delivery interfaces 9a, 9b of the corresponding container holders 7, 7a, 7b sequentially, so as to dispense part or whole of the beverage components sequentially from the separate container holders 7a, 7b to prepare a single beverage, according to the data red by the code reader 71 with respect to the codes sequentially red from the single-serve containers 11, 17. Finally, the control unit 8 allows the beverage preparation to start only after a last single-serve container 11, 17 is received in the corresponding container holder 7a, 7b according to the data red by the code reader 71 with respect to the code red from the last single-serve container 11, 17.

[0153] For the subsequent single-serve container the same operations already described for the previous single-serve container (or the individual extraction) can be repeated and, therefore, will not be further detailed.

[0154] According to an embodiment, the control unit 8 is thus able to read, store and combine the code red from each of the single-serve container 11, 17, so that the beverage preparation parameters extracted from each of them can be used the create the beverage by combining a sequential extraction of the single-serve container 11, 17.

[0155] According to an embodiment, if one of the scanned single-serve container 11, 17 is not inserted in the appropriate container holder 7a, 7b after scanning, then the sequential brewing can be switched to the individual brewing, according to the single-serve container 11, 17 inserted and the related data red and already stored.

[0156] Thus, the lever can protect or keep closed the container holder, while also defining a further physical user interface element to reduce the complexity of the beverage preparation machine.

[0157] The control unit of the beverage preparation machine is able to manage the functioning of the various fluid delivery interfaces in an individual, or sequential way, depending on the type of beverage that is to be prepared. The fact that each delivery interface comprises its own mechanical elements, and is independent from the other, allows to adapt to the type of kinematics that is necessary to prepare a beverage from each different type of container, typically a pod and a sachet, but using the same fluid system.

[0158] In the particular embodiment described above, excellent in-cup quality was achieved by extracting coffee at a high pressure from a relatively small volume container (a pod in the embodiment described therein) whose walls are held firmly by the container holder during use, to ensure that the coffee bed is maintained in a stationary state. Similarly, infusion or dissolution of powder ingredients provided excellent results in terms of in-cup quality, by mixing the ingredient with fluid at low pressure in a sachet presenting a plane shape oriented along a plane substantially vertical, and having a larger volume and flexible walls providing sufficient space for a proper mixing between the powder and the fluid. Similar advantages would be provided if powder is replaced with a liquid concentrate or a gel ingredient.

[0159] The machine according to the invention is particularly advantageous. In terms of sustainability, the package size is adapted to the amount of ingredient that is needed, and then the machine also adapts to the size of the one-use package.

[0160] In terms of mechanics, the closing force of each fluid delivery assembly (e.g. for the pods and for the sachets as described in more detailed above, but also for any other format of singleserve container) is adapted to the construction of the container, because the fluid pressure involved in both types of containers, and the fluid injection are completely different. More precisely, in the examples described above, the sachet is only held in place by two centering pins, which are sufficient that no fluid leakage occurs (the pressure inside the sachet is low, close to or equal to atmospheric pressure), while the coffee pod is fully enclosed in a closed brewing chamber that is sealed tightly (the water passing through the coffee bed is at a pressure up to 20 bar). Kinematics and mechanical elements dimensions for each individual fluid delivery assemblies of the machine are therefore also completely different and can be adapted to each type of ingredient and container independently, while using the same fluid system.

[0161] The beverage preparation machine is thus able to dispense in an accurate way according to the single-serve container recognized.

[0162] The single code reader allows to simplify the container holders, or brewing chambers, while maintaining and even increasing the reading reliability. Moreover, with a single code reader the possibility to start the beverage preparation operations by the control unit allows a better control and a reduction of cost for the beverage preparation machine.

[0163] Variations and modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the claims. Furthermore, where known equivalents exist to specific features, such equivalents are incorporated as if specifically referred in this specification. As used in this specification, the words "comprises", "comprising", and similar words, are not to be interpreted in an exclusive or exhaustive sense. In other words, they are intended to mean "including, but not limited to". List of references in the

[0164] Beverage preparation machine 2 Fluid source

[0165] 3 Fluid pump

[0166] 4 Fluid heating element

[0167] 6 Fluid collecting pipes

[0168] 6a Alternative fluid pipe

[0169] 7a Container holder

[0170] 9a Fluid delivery interface

[0171] 27 Fluid entry line

[0172] 28 Stationary part

[0173] 29 Piercing needle

[0174] 30 Movable part

[0175] 31 Cladding structure

[0176] 39 Sealing ring

[0177] 40 Fluid injection needles

[0178] 33a Lever

[0179] 42 Holding breakpoint

[0180] 7b Container holder

[0181] 9b Fluid delivery interface

[0182] 27 Fluid entry line

[0183] 33b Lever

[0184] 8 Control unit

[0185] 10 Fluid selection valve

[0186] 71 Code reader

[0187] 81 User interface

[0188] 181 Visual Ul

[0189] 281 Physical input device

[0190] Single-serve container / Coffee pod / Pod 12 Hollow cavity

[0191] 13 Bottom wall

[0192] 14 Lateral wall

[0193] 15 Peripheral edge

[0194] Single-serve container / Sachet 18 Inner volume

[0195] 19 Rigid spout

Claims

CLAIMS1. A beverage preparation machine (1) comprising:- a fluid system comprising a fluid source (2), a fluid pump (3), a fluid heating element (4),- at least two separate container holders (7a, 7b) adapted for receiving corresponding single-serve containers (11, 17) provided with a code and comprising one or more beverage ingredients, each container holder (7a, 7b) being provided with separate fluid delivery interfaces (9a, 9b) arranged for independently delivering fluid in one of the corresponding single-serve containers (11, 17) and each fluid delivery interface (9a, 9b) being connected to the fluid system,- a control unit (8) arranged for managing the beverage preparation operations and for controlling the fluid system in a manner to prepare a beverage by mixing fluid with the beverage ingredients contained in the single-serve containers (11, 17) to produce a beverage component in each of the single-serve containers (11, 17),the beverage preparation machine (1) is characterized in that it comprises a single code reader (71) arranged outside of the container holders (7a, 7b) and operatively connected to the control unit (8), the code reader (71) being able to read the code from the single-serve containers (11, 17) outside from the container holders (7a, 7b), wherein the control unit (8) controls the fluid system to deliver the fluid only in the fluid delivery interface (9a, 9b) of the container holder (7a, 7b) identified according to the data red by the code reader (71) with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers (11, 17), and the control unit (8) allows the start of the beverage preparation operations only after the single-serve container (11, 17) is received in the corresponding container holder (7a, 7b).

2. The beverage preparation machine (1) according to claim 1, wherein the control unit (8) is able to determine the parameters for the extraction of the single-serve container (11, 17) before the insertion in any of the container holders (7a, 7b) according to the data red by the code reader (71) with respect to the code of the single-serve container (11, 17).

3. The beverage preparation machine (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein each of the separate container holders (7a, 7b) is provided with a corresponding feeding path for the single-serve container (11, 17), and wherein the code reader (71) is arranged outside of the feeding paths.

4. The beverage preparation machine (1) according to one of claims 1-3, wherein the code reader (71) is arranged on an outside surface of the beverage preparation machine (1).

5. The beverage preparation machine (1) according to one of claims 1-4, wherein the code reader (71) is arranged in a fixed position.

6. The beverage preparation machine (1) according to one of claims 1-5, wherein it comprises two separate container holders (7a, 7b) only, a first of the two separate container holders (7a, 7b) is adapted for receiving a first type of the single-serve containers (11, 17) and a second of the two separate container holders (7a, 7b) is adapted for receiving a second type of the single-serve containers (11, 17), and wherein the first type of the single-serve containers (11, 17) and the second type of the single-serve containers (11, 17) differ from one another for being of different sizes and / or types.

7. The beverage preparation machine (1) according to one of claims 1-6, wherein each separate fluid delivery interfaces (9a, 9b) has a different structural and kinematic configuration adapted to a different single-serve container (11, 17).

8. The beverage preparation machine (1) according to one of claims 1-7, wherein the single code reader (71) is able to read the code from each of the single-serve containers (11, 17) sequentially,wherein the control unit (8) controls the code reader (71) to read the code from a subsequent single-serve container (11, 17) after a previous single-serve container (11, 17) is received in the corresponding container holder (7a, 7b) according to the data red by the code reader (71) with respect to the code of the previous single-serve container (11, 17),wherein the control unit (8) is further arranged to control the fluid system to deliver the fluid in the fluid delivery interfaces (9a, 9b) of the corresponding container holders (7a, 7b) sequentially, so as to dispense part or whole of the beverage components sequentially from the separate container holders (7a, 7b) to prepare a single beverage, according to the data red by the code reader (71) with respect to the codes sequentially red from the single-serve containers (11, 17), andwherein the control unit (8) allows the beverage preparation to start only after a last single-serve container (11, 17) is received in the corresponding container holder (7a, 7b) according to the data red by the code reader (71) with respect to the code red from the last single-serve container (11, 17).

9. The beverage preparation machine (1) according to one of claims 1-8, wherein it comprises a user interface (81) operatively connected to the control unit (8), and wherein the user interface (81) indicates which separate container holders (7a, 7b) must be used according to the data red by the code reader (71) with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers (11, 17).

10. The beverage preparation machine (1) according to one of claim 9, wherein the single code reader (71) is part of the user interface (81).

11. The beverage preparation machine (1) according to one of claims 1-10, wherein it comprises a lever (33a, 33b) associated to at least one of the separate container holders (7a, 7b) and movable from an opening position, to open the container holder (7a, 7b), to a closed position, to close the container holder (7a, 7b), and vice versa, wherein the lever (33a, 33b) is operatively connected to the control unit (8), and wherein the control unit (8) controls the fluid system to deliver the fluid only in one of the fluid delivery interfaces (9a, 9b) according to the data red by the code reader (71) with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers (11, 17) and triggered by the movement of lever (33a, 33b) from the open position to the closed position.

12. A beverage preparation system comprising a beverage preparation machine (1) according to one of claims 1-11 and at least two different single-serve containers (7a, 7b) provided with a code and comprising one or more beverage ingredients, wherein the single-serve containers comprise different ingredients and / or have different sizes and / or are of different types.

13. A method for preparing a beverage by way of operating a beverage preparation machine comprising:- providing single-serve containers (11, 17) provided with a code and comprising one or more beverage ingredients;- reading the code from one or more of the single-serve containers (11, 17) by a single code reader of the beverage preparation machine (1) being arranged outside of a plurality of container holders (7a, 7b) of the beverage preparation machine (1);- controlling the fluid system of the beverage preparation machine (1) to deliver the fluid only in one of the separate fluid delivery interfaces (9a, 9b) respectively provided with the container holders (7a, 7b) identified according to the data red by the code reader (71) with respect to the code of one of the single-serve containers (11 , 17); - starting the beverage preparation operations only after the single-serve container (11 , 17) is received in the corresponding container holder (7a, 7b).

14. The method for preparing a beverage according to claim 13, wherein said method for preparing a beverage is by way of operating a beverage preparation machine (1) according to one of claims 1-11.

15. Use of a single-serve container (11, 17) provided with a code to operate the beverage preparation machine (1) according to one of claims 1-11.

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